Our Projects: Exemplars

Many of our partners ask "What does a good community-based
learning or research project look like?" The answer is
complex, but ultimately we support projects that are
reciprocal, ethical, meaningful and planned in accordance
with the vision of a collaborative community partnership.

Bethany Christian Services-
LEhigh Refugee Resettlement Program

Since 2010, Lehigh's Global Citizenship Program and the
Director of the Center For Community Engagement, Dr. Sarah
Stanlick, have worked with Marla Sell, Site Director, of Bethany
Christian Services Refugee Resettlement Program.
Through a variety of service-learning and community-based
learning initiatives, we have partnered on cultural exchange
activities, workshops to help with integration and support
for refugee families, and storytelling efforts to engage the
wider community in welcoming our new neighbors. An
example of that effort can be seen in this short
documentary, a Senior GC Capstone Project, called "Starting
Over: The Stories of the Refugees in the Lehigh Valley",
as well as internships and project-based learning currently
in progress. Want to learn more? Check out this
short write-up on current initiatives on Globalsl.org.

Community-Engaged Health Research Fellows

In Spring 2017, we welcomed our first cohort of CEnHR
Fellows. Through the Community-Engaged
Health Research Fellowship program we aim
to significantly enhance the capacity of Lehigh faculty to
conduct research that involves direct, reciprocal community
engagement in the realm of health and to offer high quality
service-learning experiences for students. The program is
open to all members of the faculty. For each faculty
Fellow who receives an award, the program supports : conduct
of community-engaged health research, offering of service
learning experiences for students under the Fellow's
leadership, and development of the Fellow's capacity to
undertake future community-engaged research and service
learning projects and to serve as an advisor and mentor to
colleagues.

South Side Stories/Bethlehem Unbound

As part of the Mountaintop
Initiative, Bethlehem Unbound/South Side Stories
emerged as a high-quality digital storytelling initiative
that captured stories and history of the South Side
residents and merchants. Check out their YouTube
Channel to hear first-hand the stories of our
community.

Strohl Grant: Independent Research

Since 2011, the Strohl Grant program has provided funding
for community-engaged independent research from humanities
and social science majors. From Art,
Architecture, and Design to Sociology, students have
taken this funding and created wonderful opportunities for
community engagement. For more information on that
program, click here.